Last-pulling machine.



J. M. BENJAMIN.

LAST PULLING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION man MAR. 10. 1915.

1,203,571 Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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LAST PULLING MACHINE. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAR-1U, I915- I 1 203,571 Patented N0v.- 7; 1916.

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tAST PULLING MACHINE.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. I0. 1915 1,203,571. Pate nted Nov. 7, 1916.

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LAST PULLING MACHJNE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1915.

1,203,571. I Patented Nov. 7,1916.

4 SHEETS+SHEET 4.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. BENJAMIN, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LAST-PULLIN G MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1916.

Application filed March 10, 1915. Serial No. 13,385.

To all whom @tmay concern Be it known that 1, JOHN M. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, 1n the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Imp ovements in Last-Pulling Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for separating shoes and lasts, commonly termed last pulling machines, and the general object of the invention is to provlde an improved machine of this class.

In the manufacture of boots and shoes, after the shoes have been lasted and, in the manufacture of welt shoes, after the outsoles and heels have been attached and the shoes have been substantially finished, it is necesmum, in order to prevent injuriously straining and tearing, distorting, or otherwise damaging the shoes operated upon.

By the invention set forth in the co-pending application of Benjamin F. Mayo, Serial N 0. 869,824, filed Nov. 2, 1914, a successful last pulling machine was provided for the first time, the success of that machine being largely due to the adequate way in which it was organized to effect the separation of a shoe and last by relative movement of the shoe and last along lines of least resistance, provision being made for self accommodation of the machine parts to different conditions including different shapes of lasts and shoes and different relative positions of lasts and shoes during last pulling operations.

A specific object of the present invention is to improve the machine disclosed in the above mentioned application without sacri- Conseficing any of the above stated and other features and advantages characteristic of that machine, to the end that a machine may be produced by the use of which the separation of shoes and lasts may be accomplished with herein shown and described as embodied in I a machine of the type disclosed in said copending application. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may have.other uses, including application to last pulling machines of other types. In accordance with this object of the present invention, the machine herein shown and described as illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention is constructed and arranged to cause the shoe and last separating force exerted by the machine to be varied automatically ac cording to variations in resistance to separation ofi'ered by the shoe andlast during the shoe and last separating movement. To this end, the illustrated machine includes in addition to mechanism for effecting relative movement of a shoe and last in directions to separate the shoe and last completely, coact-.

ing spring auxiliary'means cooperating automatically with that mechanism in the production of the shoe and last separating movement. This auxiliary means operates to reduce very greatlyfthe last pulling strains upon the shoe, particularly in the region of the throat of the vamp where the strains are especially pronounced by reason of the necessity of effecting relative passage of the extreme Wide part of the last through the narrow opening'at the throat of the vamp, by regulating the last pulling movement automatically according to the resistance to separation offered by the shoe and last at different stages in the last pulling operation and by exerting yieldingly force tending to effect relative lengthwise movement of the shoe and last in a direction to facilitate freeing the last from the shoe. The illustrated construction and arrangement are such that, during the early stages of the last pulling movement when the last pulling strains upon the shoe are the greatest, the last pulling movement is automatically retarded to prevent injuriously straining the shoe while, as

soon as rendered permissible by the relative positions of shoe and last, the last movement is automatically accelerated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for firmly supporting the forepart of a shoe which means will be adapted to be incorporated readily in a machine of thetype disclosed in the above mentioned ap plication. In accordance with this object of the invention, a feature of the illustrated machine consists in a novel shoe forepart support especiallv constructed and arranged not to interfere with necessary shoe positioning movements while coiiperating with shoe clamping means to hold the shoe firmly against last pulling movement when the shoe is in operative position.

These and other objects and features of the invention including certain novel fea-- tures residing in the construction and arrangement of the illustrated shoe sole engaging devices and the provision of novel shoe positioning and gaging means Wlll. be apparent from the following detailed description read in connection with the drawings and the various novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an illustrative machine embodying the present invention, with por- 1 shoe sole engaging device of Fig. 5, parts being broken away to show the mounting of the device.

As above stated, the machine "herein shown and described for the purpose of illustrat- -ing a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a machine of the type disclosed in said co-pending application of Benjamin F. Mayo. Conveniently, and as shown, except as hereinafter fully explained and described in detail, the machine may be constructed like or substantially like the machine illustratedin said co-pending application and reference should be had to the specification and drawings of that application for detailed exposition of features and details of construction and. operation not fully explained and described herein.

The illustrated machine comprises aheavy uprightcolumn designed to stand on a floor and having in its upper part a bearing sleeve 2 (Figs. 1 and 3) for a power shaft 4. The shaft 4 carries a loose pulley 6 intendgaged by 4 is a transverse vertical seced to be connected to a source of power and having a clutch surface formed to be ena cone clutch member 8 splined on the shaft 4. When permitted, the clutch member 8 is moved toward the right (Fig. 1) to close the clutch by a compression spring 10 within the hub of the clutch member 8 and held between said clutch member and a portion of the shaft bearing 2. The spring 10 is permitted to operate the clutch member 8 to close the clutch upon movement of a lever 12 having a forked upper arm (Fig. 3) pivoted at 14 to the clutch member 8 and operated by a toggle 16, 18 (Fig. 1) to which is pivoted a rod 20 pivotally connected at its lower end to the rear end of a starting treadle 22. Depression of the treadle 22 raises the rod 20 and breaks the toggle 16, 18 to move the lever 12 toward the right (Fig. 1) to permit the spring 10 to close the clutch. The treadle 22 is normally maintained elevated at its free end by, a spring 24, the rod 20 being thereby normally pulled down, thus depressing the pivotal connection of the rod 20 with the tog le 16, 18 as far as permitted by a stop 26. A turn buckle 28 provides for adjustment of the rod 20.

To provide for opening the clutch automatically at the end of a machine cycle, the upper end of the lever 12 is pivoted at 30 to the rear end of a link 32 guided between fixed ears 34 upstanding from the bearing 2 in which the shaft 4 turns. The front end of the link 32 is forked to embrace the hub of a cam disk 36 fixed on a cam shaft 38 carrying a fixed worm gear 40 meshing with a worm 42 fixed on the shaft4, the construction being such that the cam shaft 38 makes one half a revolution for each complete cycle of the machine. The described connection of the front end of the link 32 'with'the hub of the cam disk 36 is such as to allow sliding movement of the link 32 forwardly and backwardly parallel to the shaft 4. Game of its side faces, the link 32 has a projection 44 the outer edge face of which projection is eccentric to the axis of the cam shaft 38 and normally located to be engaged by one or the other of rolls 46, 48 carried onone side of the cam disk 36, such;engagement forcin the link 32 forwardly toward the left ig. 1) thereby moving the lever 12 in the direction to pull the clutch member 8 out of driving contact with the cooperating clutch face on the continuously running pulley 6 and locking the said clutch member in inoperative position.

Upon depression of the treadle 22 and resultant breaking of the toggle 16, 18, the lower end of lever 12 is moved toward the right since the outer end of link 18 turns about a fixed pivot. In the normal positions of the parts, the cam disk 36 is at rest. with either the roll 46 or the roll 48 in engage- 130 32, the link 32 being there y held stationary at the left hand limit of its movement, looking at Fig. 1, so that, upon depression of the treadle and consequent movement of the lever 12 toward the right (Fig. 1), said lever fulcrums about its connection 30 with link 32, thereby allowing the spring to snap the clutch member 8 into clutching engage-- ment with the driving pulley 6. The shafts 4 and 38 are thereupon set in motion and the roll 46 or 48 passes off the projection 44,,

leaving the link 32 free to slide endwise toward the right (Fig. 1). The operator is expected to remove his foot from the treadle as soon as the machine is Started whereupon the spring 10 restores the toggle 16, 18 to the position shown in Fig. 1, thus swinging the lower end of lever 12 toward the left (Fig. 1). In this movement, the lever 12' turns about its pivotal connection 14 with the clutch member 8, since the spring 10 is forcing the clutch member 8 toward the .right. Such movement of the lever 12 toward the left draws the link 32 toward the right and thereby locates the projection 38 in the path of the approaching roll 46 or 48. When said roll 46 or 48 engages the projection 44, the link 32 is thereby forced toward the left and, inasmuch as the toggle 16, 18 holds the lower end of lever 12 against movement toward the right, movement of the link 32 toward the left causes the lever 12 to fulcrum about its connection 50 with toggle link 16, in consequence of which the clutch member 8 is pulled out of clutch engagement with the pulley 6 and the machine is stopped. In the illustrated construction, this disconnection of the clutch members takes place automatically at the end of a half revolution of the cam shaft 38 which occurs at the end of the complete cycle of the machine.

The above described clutch mechanism for starting and stopping the machine is not opposed independent blocks of rubber or other suitable material arranged to engage opposite sides of the counter and heel of.

the shoe and mounted for movement from inoperative positions into operative engagement with the shoe. Except for differences for the two sides of the shoe.

The counter and heel grippers 52, 54 are carried at the inner ends of stems 56, 58 formed by inner and outer telescoping sections between which are seated adjustable relief springs 59.

Preferably, and as shown, both the counter and heel gripper blocks have their work engaging faces concaved horizontally and lengthwise of a shoe (Fig. 3) and also vertically and transversely of the shoe (Fig. 4) to causethem to conform substantially both to the horizontal and to the vertical contours of the sides of a shoe counter and heel.

To provide for movement of the shoe clampmg members 52, 54 into operative engagement with a shoe, the stems 56, 58 are carried by frames 60'movable endwise to- Ward and from a shoe in stationary slide- Ways. The frames 60 are operated from the cam disk 36 to carry the shoe clamping members 52, 54 into and out of operative" position. The cam disk 36ha's in its perlphery two, opposed relatively short low parts or depressions, one of Which is indicated at 62 (Fig. 1).. A bell crank 64 fulcrumed at 66 carries on its lower arm a roll 68 (Fig. 1) which engages the periphery of the cam disk 36. The upper end of the bell crank 64 engages and intermittently thrusts toward the left (Fig. 1) against the pull of return springs 70, a plunger 72 carrying a cross head 74 (Fig. 3) connected by links' 80 to the rear arms of bell cranks 82. The bell cranks 82 are fulcrumed at 84 to fixed portions of the machine frame and their front arms are linked by adjustable bars 86 to the frames 60. Upon'movement of the frames 60, effected through the above described connections With the lever 64 and cam disk 36, substantially right line movement toward and from shoe engaging position is imparted to the counter and heel grippers 52, 54.

The counter and heel gripper blocks are removably carried in holders 88'(Fig. 4) each of which holders is swiveled on its stem by a vertical pivot 90, a supporting plate 92 sustaining the grippers against sagging. The swiveled mounting of the counter and heel gripper holders renders the counter and heel grippers freely self positioning further according to varyin conditions, particularly for shoes of di erent widths, is provided for by the before mentioned adjustable bars 86.

In addition to the described counter and heel clamps 52, 54, the illustrated machine is provided, as above stated, with auxiliary shoe holding means cooperating with the grippers 52, 54 to hold a shoe for a last pulling operation by engagement with the shoe sole on opposite sides of the sole; To this end, each gripper carrying frame 60 has an extension 94 into which is threaded an adjusting nut 96 (Fig. 5) bearing against one end of a spring 98 encircling a stem 100 of a carrier 102 and seated at its other end against an outstanding annular rim on said stem 100. The front end of each carrier 102 is adapted to be dove-tailed into a holder 104 carrying a shoe sole engaging device 106. The shoe sole engaging devices 106 are located relatively to the counter and heel grippers 52, 54 to engage a shoe in the shank and conveniently, as indicated in Fig. 2, well forward in the shank near the line of the break between the forepart and shank. In the illustrated-construction each device 106 comprises a relatively thin flat blade adapted to engage a shoe in the welt crease. The auxiliary shoe holding devices 106 not only cooperate with the shoe holding grippers- 52, 54 in positioning a shoe and holding it positioned for a last pulling operation, but at the same time afford additional support for the shoe, particularly in the region of the shank, to prevent bending the shoe sole and thus cracking or injuring the sole finish and distorting the upper.

Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, the devices 106 are normally inclined at an oblique angle to the vertical to position their crease engaging blades approximately to the spring of a shoe shank. To provide for adjusting the devices 106 for lasts differing in spring, each carrier 102 for a shoe sole engaging device 106 has a vertical slot entered by a roll 108 (Fig. 5) on a bolt 110 passing through a slot 112 (Fig. 3) in a stationary guide 114, the slot 112 being long enough to allow tipping or swinging adjusting movement of the carrier 102 about its lengthwise axis.

Preferably, in addition to the described provision for adjusting each carrier 102 about its lengthwise axis to adjust the devices 106 for lasts varying in spring, the blades 106 are mounted to be self positioning to a sufficient extent to accommodate them to ordinary variations in the spring of lasts to avoid the necessity of employing the described adjustment except infrequently, thus efiecting a substantial saving in time and labor. To this end, as shown, each blade 1'06 is preferably pivoted on a pivot stud 116 (Fig. 6) projecting from the associated holder 104, the holder 104 being cut away at its lower end to form a seat for the reception of an upstanding extension 118 integral with the blade. 106. Preferably, the extension 118 is formed to present a substantially semi-circular periphery in sliding contact with complemental shoulders indicated at 120 on the holder 104. A spring 122 held at its upper end in a slot in the holder 104 is received freely *at its-lower end in a slot 124 in the extension 118 of the device 106, the spring 122 lying in a vertically disposed tapering recess 126 formed by an extension or elongation of the recess in which the extension 118 of the device 106 is received. The spring 122 operates to maintain the blade 106 normally in a central position with respect to its holder 104, and to return the said device automatically to central position after displacement. Swinging movement of each device 106either way about its pivot 116 as an axis positions each blade 106 according to the spring of a particular shoe shank. A cover plate 128 secures each device 106 to its holder 104.

Further adjustment of each device 106 is provided for by a screw 127 and lock nut 129 (Fig. 5) by means of which the holders 104 carrying the devices 106 maybe adjusted up or down in a generally vertical direction and secured in adjusted positions to position the devices 106 for shoe shanks differing in height. Also, as in the case of the counter and heel grippers 52, 54, the auxiliary shoe holding devices 106 are pressed against the work under adjustable spring pressure by means of the before mentioned springs 98. Y

To facilitate correct positioning of a shoe with relation to the shoe holding devices and to cooperate with thecounter and heel grlppers 52, 54 to prevent lengthwise heelward movement of the shoe, the illustrated machine is provided with a shoe back gage 130 (Fig. 2) comprising a vertically disposed plate covered by a strip of rubber or other resilient or non-abrasive material and carried at the lower end of a vertical rod 132 adjustably secured to a carrier 134. The gage carrier 134 has a slotted rearward extension 136 adjustably secured to the machine frame for horizontal movement out or in from or toward the machine.

Still further to facilitate correct presentation and positioning of a shoe, the illustrated machine has a shoe height gage comprising a gage member 138 for engagement with the tread face of the heel of a shoe or the heel seat of a shoe bottom. The gage member 138 is carried at the lower end of a vertical rod 140 adjustably secured to the gage carrier 134. Conveniently, the gage member 138 may have a considerably elongated work engaging foot, as shown in Fig.

2, thereby adapting it for proper engagement with heels of different styles, particularly for heels differing in pitch.

In the use of the machine, the described power driven mechanism provides for automatically and substantially simultaneously advancing the shoe holding grippers 52, 54 and the auxiliary shoe sole engaging and holding devices 106 yieldingly into operative engagement with a shoe upon movement of the cam disk 36. The described contour of the cam disk 36 operates to cause the shoe to be held securely clamped against last pulling movement until the roll 68 on the lever 64 drops into one of the depressions 62 in the periphery of the cam disk '36 at the end of a half revolution of the shaft 38, whereupon the springs 70 retract the shoe engaging devices 52, 54, 106 to the normal inoperative positions shown in Fig. 3, thereby releasing a the shoe.

. roll (shown indotted lines, Fig. 1)

For engaging and holding a last and withdrawing it from its shoe while the shoe is held by the clamping devices 52, 54, 106, the illustrated machine is provided with a last support and holder comprising a spindle 142 (Fig. 1) carried on the front end of a swinging carrier 144 (Figs. 1 and 2) pivotally connected at its rear end at 145 to the upper end of one arm 146 of a bell crank fulcrumed" at 148 on the upper end of a plunger 150. The other arm 152 of the said bell crank has pivoted to its front end a rod 154 passing loosely at its lower end through a stationary guide 156 and encircled. by a compression spring 158. An adjusting nut 160 andcheck nut 162 are threaded "on the rod 158 near its upper end, the spring 158-being seated be tween the adjusting nut 160 and the-upper face of the guide 156 and the nuts 160 and 162 providing for adjusting the tension of the spring 158. The plunger 150 passes through a guide 164 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to a lever 166 (Fig. 1) fulcrumed at its rear end at 168 and normally upheld by a counter weight 169. The lever 166 is pivotally connected intermediate between its ends at 170 to a thrust bar 172' having a forked upper end 174 embracing the hub of a double armed cam 176 on the cam disk 36 which is arranged to engage a pro ecting from the thrust bar.

In the operation of the machine, after a shoe has been presented to and clamped by the shoe engaging and holding devices 52, 54, and 106 and while theshoe is thus held, the plunger 150 is forced downwardly upon movement of the cam 176 through downward movement of the thrust bar 172 and plunger supporting lever 166. During the first part of its downward movement, t e plunger 150 operates to pull down the rear end of the last spindle carrier 144, thereby tipping the last spindle 142 from the position of Fig. 2

into holding engagement with the last thereon. Thereafter, upon continued movement of the plunger 150, the last spindle 142 operates to pull the last downwardly and'lengthwlse heelward until the last is completely removed from the shoe. By reason of the pivotal connections 145 and 148, the plunger 150 at all times during its descent exerts upon the'last spindle a distinct and increas ing pull backwardly so that, during its generally downward last movement, the last spindle is caused to exert upon the last a constant and progressively increasing pull heelward. The result is that, as the last is moved downwardly, it is also moved length- Wise relatively to the shoe as soon and as much as permitted by the relative positions of the last and shoe. During the initial stages of the last pulling movement and until the last has moved downwardly far enoughto clear the counter portion of the shoe, only relatively slight lengthwise move-.

ment of the last is permitted by the shoe counter materials, so that this part of the heelward from the shoe.

During the descent of the plunger-150, the spring 158- constantly exerts force upon the lastcarrier 144 and last spindle 142 through the bell crank 146, 152 m a direction tending to move the last lengthwise heelward relatively to its shoe. By reason of the fact that the descent of the plunger 150 takes place against the resistance of the spring 158, the compression of the spring 158 increasing progressively as the last pulling movement proceeds, the said spring retards the last pulling movement during its early stages, when the last pulling strains upon the shoe, and particularly the strains in the region of the throat of the vamp of the shoe, are the greatest, while, as soon as the heel end of the last has moved downwardly far enough so that it can clear the shoe counter, the spring 158 imparts to the last a very decided impetus lengthwise heelward, acceleratin the last movement very materially. At t e same time, the lengthwise force exerted on the last by the spring 158 operates, during the early stages of the last pulling movement particularly, to facilitate freeing the wide part of the last, thereby facilitating its exit through the narrow opening at the throat of .the vamp. The

of the shoe and lastdescribed construction and arrangement provide coacting yielding auxiliary means associated with the last ulling mechanism and cooperating therewit in the production separating movement automatically as permitted by the shoe and last which means operates to reduce very greatly the last pulling strains upon the shoe upper, articularly in the region of the throat o the vamp, by regulating the action of the last pulling mechanism automatically according to. the resistance to separation ofi'ered by the shoe and last in the successive stages of each last pulling operation and by facilitating the withdrawal'ofthe last from the shoe as above explained.

In addition to the described support for the heel portion of a shoe provided by the last spindle 142, and cooperating with the clampmg devices 52, 54, 106 to ,hold a shoe against last pulling movement, the illustrated machine includes means for supporting the forepart of the shoe in opposition to the last pulling movement, said means comprising a depending toe embracing stirrup 17 8 pivotally connected to an overhead carrier rod 180 for swinging movement relatively to said rod 180. The stirrup 178 comprises a shoe forepart embracing loop formed intermediate between its ends to provide a shoe upper engaging rest or support (Fig. 2). T0,,permit adwstingmovement of the stirrup 178 up or down, the rod 180 is secured by a spl1t clamp 182 and thumb screw 184 to a horizontall disposed rod 186. The rod 186 is similar y secured by a split clamp 188 and thumb screw 190 to an upstandin arm of the gage carrier 134 to permit a justing movement of .the stirrup 17 8 for shoes of diiferent lengths. The toe supporting stirrup 17 8 is normally positioned to support the forepart of a shoe in operative relation to the shoe engagingand holding members 52, 54 and 106 while, by reason of its pivotal connection with its carrier rod'180, the stirrup 178 is arranged to be swung out of normal position by contact with a shoe to permit movement of the shoe from its initial position into operative relation to said shoe engaging members. To facilitate swinging the stirrup 178 out of shoe supporting position upon such positioning movement of the shoe, the said stirrup is provided with a depending tail piece 192 projecting obliquely across the path of movement of a shoe into operative position and preferably, as shown, of sufficient length to insure contact with shoes of diiferent sizes.

The machine comes to rest with the last holding spindle 142 and its supporting and operating mechanism positioned as shown in Fig. 1, the plunger 150 being fully eleplunger 150 1s tributing to thp moss-r1 vated. A shoe having therein a last to be pulled is presented for the operation of the machine b mounting the last on the spindle 142. he shoe is then elevated into position to be engaged and held by the shoe clamps 52, 54 and 106, for example, by the operator manually swinging the last spindle carrier 144 upwardly and positioning t e shoe by contact with the back gage 130 and the height gage 138, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Conveniently, to facilitate swinging the last spindle and shoe upwardly into operative relation to the shoe clamping devices, the last spindle carrier may be provided witha hand hold or finger piece 194 projecting forwardly from the last spindle carrier. During themanually eifected upward swinging movement of the shoe from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 2, the toe portion of the shoe engages the inner face of the tail piece 192, operating by sliding contacttherewith to swing the shoe forepart supporting stirrup 178 forwardly out of shoe supporting position sufficiently to permit the shoe to pass upwardly into operative relation to the shoe clamping members. After the shoe has been thus located and positioned in operative relation to the shoe clamping treadle 22 is depressed, the shoe engaging and clamping devices 52, 54 and 106 are advanced, as above described, into yielding, clamping engagement with the shoe, after which, and while the shoe is thus held, the

forced downwardly by the cam 17 6 through downward movement of the thrust bar 172 and plunger supporting lever 166. As the plunger 150 descends, it operates as hereinbefore described, to tip the last spindle 142 into holding engagement with the last and then to pull the last downwardly and lengthwise heelward completely out of its shoe, the spring 158 conproduction of the last pulling movement and lessening the last pulling strains upon the shoe by exerting yielding'ly upon the last through the bell crank 146, 152, last spindle carrier 144 and last spindle 142, progressively increasing force tending to move the last lengthwise heelward relaembodied, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'of the United bination, means for holding a shoe,-means for holding a last, mechanism constructed and arranged to effect relative movement of said shoe holding means and said last holding means substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the shoe bottom and lengthwise of the shoe and last to separate said shoe and last, and auxiliary means associated with said mechanism and cooperating with said mechanism in the production of said relative movement.

2. A last pulling machine having, in combination, means for holding a shoe, means for holding a last, mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holding means and said last holding means to efiect relative movement of the shoe and last to separate said shoe and last, and auxiliary means associated with said mechanism and constructed and arranged to regulate said relative movement automatically according to the resistance to separation ofl'ered by the shoe and last at different stages in a last pullingoperation.

3. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a shoe holder, a last holder, mechanism for relatively moving said. holders to efi'ect relative movement of a shoe and last to separate said shoe and last, and auxiliary means operating upon said mechanism to accelerate said relative movement as permitted by said shoe'and'la'st.

4. A last pulling machine having, in combination, ashoe holder, a last holder, mechanism for relatively moving said holders to effect relative movement of a shoe and last to separate said shoe and last, and auxiliary means operating upon said mechanism to re tard said relative movement to prevent injuriously straining the shoe.

5. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, last holding means, mechanism for. effecting relative movement of said shoe holding means and said last holding means in directions substantially perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom and lengthwise of the shoe and last to separate a shoe and last, and auxiliary means coacting with said mechanism and exerting force tending to accelerate such relative lengthwise movement of said shoe and last to facilitate their separation.

6. A last pulling machine having, in combination, a shoe holder, a last holding spindle, mechanism for relatively moving said holder and said spindle to effect relative movement of a last and shoe to separate said shoe and last, and auxiliary spring means operating to cause the separation of the shoe and last to be efiected yieldingly.

7 In a last pulling machine, a last holding spindle, a earner for said spindle,- a supporting member for said carrier pivoted for swinging movement, and a spring acting on Igaid carrier through said supporting memer.

8. In a last pulling machine, last removing means comprising a plunger, a 'bell .crank fulcrumed on the plunger, a carrier pivoted to one arm of the bell crank, a last holder on said carrier, and a spring acting against the other arm of the bell crank.

9. In a last pulling machine, shoe holding means, last holding means comprising a last spindle, a carrier for said spindle pivoted for manually efiected swinging movement to position a last and shoe thereon with rela--- tion to said shoe holding means, an operating member, an intermediate member operatively connected to said operating member and said carrier, a hand hold or finger piece fixed to said carrier for effecting positioning movement of said carrier and spindle, and mechanism for operating said carrier and spindle through said operating member and said intermediate member to remove a last from a shoe.

10. A machine for use in the manufuacture of boots and shoes having, in combination, means for clamping'the rear part of a shoe, a. spindle constructed and arranged for holding engagement with a last, mechanism for moving said spindle to eifect movement ,of said last relatively to said shoe, and a shoe upper engaging stirrup coiiperating with said clamping means to hold said shoe against said movement of the last.

11. In a machine for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, a carrier and a stirrup depending'from said carrier in position to receive and position the forepart of a. shoe for the operation of the machine, said stirrup comprising a shoe forepart embracing loop formed intermediate between its ends to provide a rest for the said forepart of the shoe.

12. In a machine for use in the manufacture. of boots and shoes, means for positioning the forepart of a shoe for the operation of the machine comprising a swinging mem ber normally in operative position and constructed and arranged to be displaced from operative position by contact with a shoe to permit positioning movement of the shoe and thereafter to be returned automatically to operative position.

13. In a machine for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, means for engaging stirrup comprising a loop formed intermediate between its ends to provide a rest for to said carrier for swinging movement rela tively'to the carrier, said stirrup comprising a loop formed intermediate between its ends to present a rest for the forepart of a shoe and carrying a depending tail piece projecting obliquely from said rest for sliding engagement with the shoe to swing said stirrup out of positioning movement of said shoe.

15. In a last pulling machine, shoe sole engaging means constructed and arranged to beself positioning to the spring of a last by swinging movement oneway or the other from a central position, and spring means operating normally to hold said shoe sole engaging means yieldingly in said central position.

16. In a last pulling machine, a carrier, a holder depending from said carrier, and a shoe sole engaging member pivoted to said holder to permit said shoe sole engaging member to be self positioning to the spring of a last by swinging movement of said shoe sole engaging member relatively to said holder.

17. In a last pulling machine, a holder, a pivot stud pro ecting from said holder, a shoe sole engaging member having an extension by which said member is pivoted on said stud for swinging movement of said member according to the spring of a last, and a spring normally centering said member with respect to said holder.

18. In a last pulling machine, a holder, a leaf spring fixed at one end to said holder, and a shoe sole engaging device pivoted to said holder for swinging movement relatively tothe holder and slotted to receive freely the other end of said spring, said spring operating normally to center said device relatively to its holder and to return said device automatically to central position after displacement.

19. A last pulling machine having, in combination, means for holding a last, means for holding a shoe, means constructed and arranged to facilitate positioning and locating the shoe in operative relation to said shoe holding means comprising a gage member for engagement with the tread face of the heel of said shoe and having a relatively long shoe heel engaging foot to adapt said gage member without adjustment for shoes having heels difiering in pitch, and mechanism for relatively moving said last holding means and said shoe holding means to separate a shoe and last.

20. A last pulling machine having, in

operative position to permit combination means for holding a. last, means for holding a shoe, a shoe height gage having a relatively long shoe engaging face to facilitate initially locating and positioning said shoe in respect to said shoe holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said last holding means and said shoe holding means to separate a shoe and last. 21. A last pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, last holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holding means and said last holding means to separate a shoe and last constructed and arranged to cause the shoe and last separating force exerted by saidv mechanism to be varied automatically according to variations in resistance to separation oflered by the shoe and last during the shoe and last separating movement.

22. Alast pulling machine having, in combination, shoe holding means, last holding means, and mechanism for relatively moving said shoe holding means and said last holding means to separate a shoe and last constructed and arranged to cause the shoe and last separating movement to be retarded or accelerated automatically according to variations in resistance to separation ofiered by the shoe and last at difierent stages in the last and shoe separating movement.

23. A last pulling machine having, in combination, means for holding a shoe, means for holding a last, mechanism constructed and arranged to effect relative movement of said shoe and last holding means to separate the shoe and last including lengthwise relative movement of the shoe and last after the shoe counter and last heel clear each other, and means constructed and arranged to accelerate said lengthwise separating movement between said shoe and last.

' 24. A last pulling machine having, in combination, means for holding a shoe, means for holding a last, mechanism constructed and arranged to eflect relative movement of said shoe and last holding means to separate completely the shoe and last including lengthwise relative movement of the shoe and last after the shoe counter and last heel clear each other, and means constructed and arranged to accelerate said lengthwise sepzlira'ting movement between said shoe and ast.

25. A last pulling machine havingyin combination, means for holding a shoe, means for holding a last, mechanism constructed and arranged to effect relative movement of said shoe and last holding means to separate the last and shoe including relative lengthwise movement of the shoe and last after the shoe counter and last vheel clear each other, and spring means cooperating with said mechanism and constructed and said shoe\holder and mechanism for relaarranged to accelerate said lengthwise septively moving saidla'st holder and said shoe arating movement between said shoe and holder to separate a shoe and last. last. In testimony whereof I have signed my 6 26.Alast pulling machine having, in comname to this specification in the presence 1.;

bination, a last holder, a shoe holder, a shoe of two subscribing Witnesses.

back gage, a shoe height gage, a unitary JOHN M. BENJAMIN. holder for said gages, said gages being ar- Witnesses: ranged for adjustment to position shoes of HARLOW M.- DAVIS,

10 difierent dimensions in operative relation to v HENRY B. GREENOUGH. 

